Cigarette holder



Oct. 13, 1953 l.. M. WEINTRAUB I 2,655,157

` CIGARETTE HOLDER Filed Feb. l, 1950 1- ylfll/lllll/lll/ll/Illl. '111111111111IllIllllllIIll//l l Y INVENTOR. l

Patented Oct. 13, 1953 5l Til-1D S TATES PATENT OFFICE 2,655,157 CIGARETTE HOLDER Louis M. Weintraub, flhicago,

Application February 1, 1950, SerialNo.141,"7.21

s mums. (cl. rs1- 182) This linvention relates 'generally to vcigarette holders and more particularly to 'an improved holder having .amovable cigarette support which permits vthe `cigarette to 'be retracted into the holderwhere itis safely and quickly extinguished. VGiga-rette'smokers are'frequently faced ywith the situation of having just lit -a cigarette only to n that `for som-e reason or other Vthey must stop smoking and sometimes extinguish the cigarette immediately before it has been fully smoked.

This `is not only lwasteful of cigarettes, but Voften is inconvenient to accomplish Vif an ash tray or other receptacle *is not at hand. This situation arises many instances; for example, where city ordinances or rules prohibit smoking in elevators, department 'stores-or street cars, and also in restaurants 'where a diner lights a cigarette inst as the waiter arrives with `ihis order.

Under rsuch ncomlitions many smokers attempt to ysai-fe the remaining portion ofthe cigarette -by carefully removing the coal or snung Vit out so that it can be relit at alater time. Relit cigarettes which have been pressed out are general-ly dama-ged and moreover do `not have the same taste or aroma as Aa fresh cigarette. If they did, this practice, even though messy, would have moreadherents. l

One ob'jec-t of this invention is 'to provide a cigarette holder Ahaving provision for simultaneously smothering and cooling the cigarette at any desired time and accomplishing it lquickly -vby a simple operation, and which will completely enclose and protect the extinguished cigarette untilsuch tin-reas it is either ejected `or repositioned in smoking position to be relit.

Another object is kto provide a cigarette holder from which a cigarette Ina-y be automatically eected without-the necessity of handling the stub .and when in use =will -serve to cool the smoke entering the smokers mouth.

A further obiect is to provide a holder which is formed vfrom a 'minimum number of easily fabricated parts so as to be simple to manufacture and -easy to keep in a clean, sanitary condition.

A `further object is -to provide :a 'holder which lmay be completely .disassembled Afor cleaning withoutthefneedof any tools.

Other obects and advantages of this 4invention will present themselves to those familiar with .the art on reading the following specification in conjunction with the drawing andthe appended claims:

In lthe drawing: 1 is -a side elevation of a preferred em- 2 bodiment yof the cigarette holder 'of Athis invention:

Fig. 2 is a plan view;

Fig. 3 is ia section taken on line 3--13 of 2 showing fthe carriage in the retracted position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectionl taken lon line 4-4 of Fig. l showing the carriage in the normalposition';

Fig. 5 is a 4section taken -on line i545 of v@Fi-g'. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.f`5 exceptthatfthe locking ring is shown -in the Arelease position.

The ,fundamental principle -of this invention is "to "provide a holder having a cylindrical barreliwhich is slightly larger iin diameter and substantiallythe Vsame length as a cigarette. A movable .carriage in the form of a bushing is slidably mounted in this barrel and supports the stub end of the cigarette. The smoker then may Imove the cigarette into the 'barrel by sucking inwardly onthe mouthpiece disposed at one end-of the barrel, or may cause the cigarette and carriage to moye to I'the opposite -end Iof 'the barrel l'by blowing into "the mouthpiece. To `prevent inadvertent retraction ofthe cigarette Vfrornthe smokingpositon into theba-rrel, a manually controlled locking mechanism is provided to releasably vsecure the carriage inthe forward position and also to 4limit rotary movement thereof when pressed inwardly as when a cigarette is being inserted in place.

A Vpreferred embodiment of the holder l0 is illustrated in the drawing. v*The holder -I`0 comprises only four .elementsa tubular barrel "I-I, -a mouthpiece 1I'2, amovablefcarriage 13, and alcoleng ring 14. 'The barrel 1l is `preferably formed of thin aluminum tubing which is Inot only light in Weight but is .also `an excellent conductor of heat to cool the smoke passing through it. The high .heat conductivity results in lcooler smoking and .quicker smothering of the retracted cigarette while lightness makes for a more comfortable holder which does not burden the smokers jaw.

An inwardly projecting flange 'f5 is `provided at the front end of 'the barrel vI l preferably'by rolling the end inwardly Yduring :the vcut-off operation as the barrels ill are formed from long lengths of seamless tubing. .This -flange 15 serves as a stop to `limit forward movement of the carriage 13. The width of" the ange t5 is such as to leave ample clearance vfor a cigarette (indicated in broken lines at i6), so that'it may be readily drawn or linserted into the lbarrel -I I. Rearward motion of the carriage '|3 is limited -by the mouthpiece l2 which is supported in the rear end of the barrel II. The mouthpiece I2 is preferably formed of plastic, but may be hard rubber or ivory if desired, and the forward end of the passageway I'I through the mouthpiece I2 is preferably enlarged so as to permit the free flow of smoke or air therethrough.

The locking ring I4 serves to hold the carriage I3 in the forward position. The construction of this ring is best shown in Figs. 4 to 6. To retain the ring in the proper position on the barrel II, an undercut or substantially annular groove I8 is provided in the outside of the barrel II a short distance from the forward end in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said barrel. The ring I4 which is slipped onto the barrel II over this groove has a pair of parallel slits provided therein which xtend approximately 90 around the ring. At one end the slits 20 are connected by a transverse cut to define an integral tongue-like portion 22 which is separate from the body of the ring except at one end. The free end of the tongue portion 22 is bent radially inwardly to form a detent 23. The width of the detent 23 is the same as the groove I3, and the end of the detent rides in the groove `to secure the ring I4.

An opening 24 is provided through the wall of the barrel and through the groove I8, and the detent 23 projects through this opening when the ring is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5. The tongue-like portion 22 is bent inwardly so as to normally lie in this position, but it is freely exible and may be easily fiexed radially outwardly. The face of the detent 23 is inclined as indicated at 25 to form a cam surface which serves to lift the detent when the ring I4 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 5, the inclined portion riding over the edge of the opening 24 to raise the detent to the position shown in Fig. 6 where its end rides in the bottom of the groove I 8.

When the ring I4 and detent 23 are positioned as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the detent 23 projects into the barrel II adjacent the end of the carriage 13 to lock it in the forward position, When the ring I4 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 6 the detent 23 is retracted from the barrel II, and the carriage I3 is freely movable therein.

To facilitate manual twisting of the ring I4 its outer surface is preferably knurled as shown in the drawing.

To aid in the insertion of a cigarette I6 in the carriage I3, a plurality of notches 26 are cut into the rear end of the carriage. These notches 26 are inclined on one side and provided with a square shoulder on the other side to engage the detent 23 and lock the carriage I3 against rotation as the cigarette is inserted into the end of the carriage and twisted slightly, as is natural in a clockwise direction. The detent 23 is sufficiently strong for this purpose so that it will not spring outwardly nor be cammed outwardly under the torque imposed on the carriage derived from the twisting force exerted in twisting a cigarette in place in the carriage I3. It has been found that a tighter engagement between the cigarette and carriage I3 may be obtained in this manner than if the cigarette is merely pressed inwardly.

The operation of the holder I0 will probably be apparent from the foregoing description, but the following rsum may prove helpful.

With the carriage I3 locked in the forward position as shown in Fig. 4 the smoker first inserts a cigaretteA I8 in the end of the holder, twisting it clockwise slightly until it is firmly seated in the carriage I3. The cigarette may then be lit if it is desired to .smoke immediately, or it may be re- 4 tracted into the holder to be carried in the pocket and smoked later.

Assuming that the cigarette has been lit, however, and that the smoker desires to put it out, all he has to do is twist the ring I4 counterclockwise to raise the detent and suck inwardly upon the mouthpiece I2. This causes the cigarette and carriage I3 to be drawn into the barrel I l thereby completely enclosing the cigarette, whereupon the cigarette is cooled by the walls of the barrel Il and extinguished due to lack of oxygen. The holder may immediately be put into the pocket with complete safety, taking care to keep it in an upright position.

When it is again desired to smoke, the smoker has only to blow into the mouthpiece i2 to restore the carriage I3 and cigarette to the smoking position. The locking ring I4 is then rotated to align the detent 23 with the opening 24 to relock the 'i carriage I3. The cigarette IB may then be relit and smoked to completion. It has been found that the cigarette lon relighting after being extinguished in this manner by smothering and cooling tastes no differently than a fresh cigarette.

When the smoker desires to eject the stub, he merely twists the ring I4 to release the carriage and draws the cigarette stub into the barrel II as though he were going to extinguish it. Thereafter he blows into the mouthpiece relatively hard to catapult the stub out of the holder as 'the carriage accelerates forwardly and slams against the ange i5 to jar the cigarette loose. In the event the stub is too firmly seated to release it on the first movement, the operation may be repeated a few times, each jar loosening the engagement until the stub iiies out. If it is desired to extinguish the cigarette before ejection, it can be left a few seconds in retracted position before ejection. The ring I4 is then twisted to reset the holder for insertion of another cigarette.

When it is desired to clean the holder, the ring i4 is twisted to release the carriage I3, and the mouthpiece I2 is removed by pulling outwardly thereon. The carriage may then be shaken out and all the parts may be completely cleaned with a cloth, tissue, or a pipe cleaner, and in Water if desired. The locking ring may be removed by lifting the detent 23 out of the groove and slipping the ring off the adjacent end of the barrel I I.

VVarious changes or modifications such as will present themselves to those familiar with the art may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention whose scope is commensurate with the following claims.

What is claimed ist 1. A cigarette holder comprising an elongated hollow body open at one end for the insertion of a cigarette and having a mouthpiece at the opposite end, a cigarette supporting carriage axlally slidable in said body, the walls lof said carriage fitting the walls of said hollow body in substantially airtight engagement, said carriage being substantially shorter than said body, and a locking ring for retainingI said carriage at the open end of said body, said ring having a detent which normally projects through an opening in the wall of said body to obstruct sliding movement of the carriage.

2. A cigarette holder comprising an elongated hollow body having but one opening located at one end for the insertion of a cigarette and having a mouthpiece closingthe opposite end, and a movable cigarette supporting carriage within rsaid body adapted to receive an end of a cigarette and also adapted to be slid axially in said body, the walls of said carriage fitting the walls of said hollow body in substantially airtight engagement whereby said carriage may be reciprocated axially in said body either by air pressure or suction applied at said mouthpiece, said carriage being substantially shorter than said body.

3. A cigarette holder comprising an elongated hollow body having but one opening located at one end for the insertion of a cigarette and having a mouthpiece at the opposite end, a movable cigarette supporting carriage into which the end of a cigarette is received in supported relationship and adapted to be slid axially within said barrel, the wall of said carriage fitting the walls of the barrel, and means adapted to retain and to release said carriage at the open end of said barrel, said carriage being substantially shorter than said barrel so that said cigarette may be wholly received in said barrel to extinguish same when the carriage is moved to the mouthpiece end of the barrel.

4. A cigarette holder comprising a mouthpiece, a. cylindrical barrel open only at one end and slightly larger in diameter than a cigarette, a cylindrical carriage slidably supported within said barrel adapted to receive the end of a cigarette in supported relationship, means for retaining said carriage in said barrel, and means adapted to lock and release said carriage at the end of said barrel remote from the mouthpiece.

5. A cigarette holder comprising a mouthpiece, a barrel open only at one end and being slightly larger in diameter than a cigarette and formed of a material having a high rate of heat conductivity, a cigarette carriage having an annular section substantially shorter than said barrel and slidably supported within said barrel whereby a cigarette supported in said ring may be drawn into said barrel to extinguish the same, and means for retaining said carriage in said barrel.

6. In a cigarette holder the combination including abarrel, a slidable carriage within said barrel, said barrel having an undercut portion near one end thereof and an opening through the wall of said barrel in the bottom of said undercut portion, and a locking ring surrounding said barrel, said ring having a detent adapted to project through said opening to lock the carriage against sliding movement in said barrel when the ring is twisted to a position with the detent in said opening.

7. In a cigarette holder the combination including a barrel, a slidable and rotatable carriage within said barrel, said barrel having an undercut portion near one end thereof and an opening through the wall of said barrel in the bottom of said undercut portion, and a locking ring surrounding said barrel, said ring having a detent adapted to project through said opening to lock the carriage against sliding movement in said barrel when the ring is twisted to a position with the detent in said opening, and said carriage having a notch at one end for engaging said detent to prevent rotation of said carriage in one direction in the barrel.

8. In a cigarette holder the combination including a barrel, a slidable carriage within said barrel, said barrel having an opening through the wall, and a locking ring surrounding said barrel, said ring having a detent adapted to project through said opening to seal the opening and to lock the carriage when the ring is twisted to a position with the detent in said opening.

LoUIs M. WEINTRAUB.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,319,622 Salmon et al. Oct. 21, 1919 1,857,283 MacBeth May 10, 1932 1,996,829 Peterson Apr. 9, 1935 2,267,966 Allen Dec. 30, 1941 2,563,695 Siens Aug. 7, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,616 Great Britain 1910I 14,549 Great Britain4 1905 253,075 Switzerland Nov. 16, 1948 735,431 France Nov. 8, 1932 

